Tra Van An decided to give up a 6-year job in Ho Chi Minh City to fulfill his dream on the highland land.
“Before I went to Da Lat, I worked as a deputy chef for a restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City”, Tra Van An (1993) started her story with a somewhat reckless decision – resigning in the middle of the season.
An decided to quit working for 6 years to follow his dream. Photo: NVCC. Leave work, go to the forest In early 2020, the Covid -19 translation caused the tourism and service industry to fall into crisis. The restaurants met many difficulties, An’s work had many impacts. After a period of thinking, An decided to quit his job to find a new opportunity. “I think of Da Lat. When I first started working, I had a plan to go to Da Lat to work because I liked the nature and the atmosphere there. But people advise that the young should stay in the city to work, get experience. After 6 years working, I am confident enough to fulfill my own dream ”, An confided. An used the money saved after many years to become a homestay combined with a passion for cooking. Away from his family at the age of 13, An was used to living independently and looking for opportunities for himself, although starting a business in a new land presents many challenges. An Bao Da Lat had many opportunities but also many difficulties. “People looking from the outside think that being a homestay must be ‘chill’, very relaxed. Not wrong, but not entirely right, ”An said. Not simply bringing money to rent a house and decorate it, only in the first 10 days to Da Lat, An fell 5 kg, sometimes stressed out and could not sleep. “Have to close the kitchen, fix the house, paint the house, pick up the dust, clean the house, wash the laundry… do it all by yourself. In the past, working in the kitchen underwent a lot of pressure, but this pressure was several times higher ”, said Van An. It took a month for the new job to go into order. 
An spent 1 month to repair and decorate the house. Building a house is difficult, maintaining it is even more difficult. Previously, just focused on cooking delicious food for diners, now get used to getting up late and getting up early to welcome guests, taking care of every piece of food and sleep for guests every time they visit the house. “After all the initial hardships, it’s time to live the good days”, An laughed. “Every day to meet and get acquainted with new people, to go to the market to cook what you like. When you give your all to everyone, it’s also time to receive positive things.” Keeping Da Lat “The translation season is arduous, but it’s also fun. Have time to relax, redecorate the house, go around Dalat or neighboring places, ”An said. “The landlord called to say not to collect rent during the epidemic, while I never complained or pleaded. Then my friends help out a lot, often come home to help ”, according to Van An, stepping through the hardships, the new appreciation of human feelings for others. 
Guests as well as relatives visit the house. The thing that made An feel sad the most was that Da Lat was increasingly losing quality. “The city gradually lost its beauty of nature. Every place is racing to “foreignize”, “westernize”, from Japanese garden, Bali sky gate to Hong Kong street … but in fact, the core value of Dalat is pine forest, pure nature “. An said. Therefore, An always tries to build his house so that each guest can feel the peaceful atmosphere of the mountain town. Being a chef, An takes care of meals for guests, if he has time, he accompanies guests to entertainment spots in Da Lat, everyone will meet like family members. not just a stay. “The day before going to Thailand, I felt they do tourism very well, practical and useful. Traveling in me is often clever, sometimes deceived. I feel like I have to have a mind, to be sustainable, ”said An.
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